Well, happy new year, everyone! I don't know if anything new is up, though. You can only imagine the fireworks, the associated injuries, and the I-don't-want-to-go-to-school-yet feelings that dominate our hearts, minds and souls. Maybe the only thing that's new is that I'm an unregistered voter who's in front of the PC, still arguing with his annoying brother.
Oh, wait, nothing is new.
I called this year two-uh-oh-six for a reason. It is, as it proved to be, an annoying, confusing, euphoric and terrible year. It was, quite seriously, my first bite of reality as television shows refuse to portray. And, if I become willing to remember, this was the year when I got paranoid, got confused, fell in love, got overly excited, fell out of love, found new friends, found new inspirations, found someone who matches outfits with me, got bitter, got busy, got into majors, denied a lot, got sleepless, got paranoid again, missed a lot, and attended birthdays - that was a mouthful. Okay, breathe. One, two, three.
Read more »
12/31/2006
‒
12/26/2006
‒
Here we go. Another debut, this time slated on the date that marks a year after a wasted ticket to Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah. Piyar just told me about hers, this early, and the first thing that comes to mind is another wardrobe problem. The theme, apparently, is that of a music award ceremony, probably something like what's always shown on the television. And I'm at a loss for ideas.
Black outfits? Hrmmm. I'll need some of that sort for my Baguio trip tomorrow. I'm hearing that temperatures are as low as twelve degrees. But I decided instead to bring thicker shirts - none of those from yesterday's present haul - and none of them are black.
Issa will also be in Baguio tomorrow, surprisingly. If before I whine at the thought of her being there, but not really - it's either I'm stuck in class or I'm on my way home when she happens to be in the DLSU area - now I'm shocked at the sheer coincidence things are going. And my dreams last night are saying something similarly.
Read more »
Black outfits? Hrmmm. I'll need some of that sort for my Baguio trip tomorrow. I'm hearing that temperatures are as low as twelve degrees. But I decided instead to bring thicker shirts - none of those from yesterday's present haul - and none of them are black.
Issa will also be in Baguio tomorrow, surprisingly. If before I whine at the thought of her being there, but not really - it's either I'm stuck in class or I'm on my way home when she happens to be in the DLSU area - now I'm shocked at the sheer coincidence things are going. And my dreams last night are saying something similarly.
Read more »
12/24/2006
‒
...and I'd like to thank you for somehow making such a ripple in my life this year. Drama ba? Hahaha. Merry christmas! Enjoy the holidays hanggang kaya!
Sixty-two people received this message from me some time this morning.
From Karla Peralta: Wahay! Magda ang drama! Merry christmas rin! See you soon!
Read more »
Sixty-two people received this message from me some time this morning.
From Karla Peralta: Wahay! Magda ang drama! Merry christmas rin! See you soon!
Read more »
12/22/2006
‒
Wheee. That is a rarity.
Anyway, I went back to school yesterday and got another 4.0. A "del Mundo four" at that. However, my position in the dean's list is already precarious - although My.Lasalle isn't updating my GPA calculation, probably because Miss Pam didn't get to post our grades to the system immediately, my scratch calculations puts me on the second honors list. That isn't bad - at least, as John said, I'm still there - but I'm hanging at an average of roughly 3.05. Yes, a drop of a little over half a point!
But I'm already happy to maintain my priority enrollment, which is suddenly my best aim, and not a dean's list slot. It's hard to convince my parents, though, that they shouldn't expect me to bring home another Jose Rizal certificate any time soon. That probably explains all the pressure placed on me. Oh, it's hard being perceived as intelligent...
Read more »
Anyway, I went back to school yesterday and got another 4.0. A "del Mundo four" at that. However, my position in the dean's list is already precarious - although My.Lasalle isn't updating my GPA calculation, probably because Miss Pam didn't get to post our grades to the system immediately, my scratch calculations puts me on the second honors list. That isn't bad - at least, as John said, I'm still there - but I'm hanging at an average of roughly 3.05. Yes, a drop of a little over half a point!
But I'm already happy to maintain my priority enrollment, which is suddenly my best aim, and not a dean's list slot. It's hard to convince my parents, though, that they shouldn't expect me to bring home another Jose Rizal certificate any time soon. That probably explains all the pressure placed on me. Oh, it's hard being perceived as intelligent...
Read more »
12/20/2006
‒
Surprisingly, I haven't got much to say. Even about yesterday. Even if I somehow realize I am (still) hanging in the balance that is the dean's list. Even if I impulsively decided not to take public transport for most of my trip home, and instead, go with Kim and talk about everything while snaking through Manila traffic. Is that how relieved we have all become?
Read more »
12/16/2006
‒
Well, so far our deadlines are over. All we probably have to do is sit back and relax a bit, and maybe trod back to the campus for our course cards. In my case, I'm getting four, all for my major classes. How about you?
It's been quite stressful, really. I think it's very obvious, right? I've been looking at everyone in the same running as I am and they're looking, quite frankly, older by the minute. In my case, my eyebags are getting bigger. I can't see enthusiasm in everyone's eyes, and lately all we've wanted is for things to be finished. So, here we are.
I think I've been telling everybody that we're all getting a much deserved vacation, even if there's still the course card to look for (and brace for). Jackie has gome through a DVD marathon last night and I told her it was well deserved. Caresse has finally stopped being "busy" and I told her she has to stop thinking about the last term. Well, it's been everybody else - Jan has to chill, Mon deserves the beach weekend, and back to us, I honestly deserve nothing but a good night's rest.
Read more »
It's been quite stressful, really. I think it's very obvious, right? I've been looking at everyone in the same running as I am and they're looking, quite frankly, older by the minute. In my case, my eyebags are getting bigger. I can't see enthusiasm in everyone's eyes, and lately all we've wanted is for things to be finished. So, here we are.
I think I've been telling everybody that we're all getting a much deserved vacation, even if there's still the course card to look for (and brace for). Jackie has gome through a DVD marathon last night and I told her it was well deserved. Caresse has finally stopped being "busy" and I told her she has to stop thinking about the last term. Well, it's been everybody else - Jan has to chill, Mon deserves the beach weekend, and back to us, I honestly deserve nothing but a good night's rest.
Read more »
12/12/2006
‒
I don't know what Incubus song that came from, but it surely comes in handy for so many times. Put your frustration in four-letter words, it says.
And with today being the most senseless day of my life, with me going to school even if I don't have anything to do, and eventually getting nothing out of it except for my money and my energy and my precious time which could have been spent doing my research proposal, or studying for my finals - and I'm doing neither! Then again there was me walking around, getting my feet tired, eating a burrito while seeing familiar people, waiting for people who won't arrive, reading books that don't get you anywhere - and then there was Kizia's ridiculously huge smile today, which I haven't seen in a while - and then there were the same old things I did earlier.
And now, I find myself lost after less than a half hour led me to a flurry of screen captures, keystrokes, photos and that weird sensation you get when you mix stuff together. Oh, and Kevin talking to me about the wonders of Narrator.
Read more »
And with today being the most senseless day of my life, with me going to school even if I don't have anything to do, and eventually getting nothing out of it except for my money and my energy and my precious time which could have been spent doing my research proposal, or studying for my finals - and I'm doing neither! Then again there was me walking around, getting my feet tired, eating a burrito while seeing familiar people, waiting for people who won't arrive, reading books that don't get you anywhere - and then there was Kizia's ridiculously huge smile today, which I haven't seen in a while - and then there were the same old things I did earlier.
And now, I find myself lost after less than a half hour led me to a flurry of screen captures, keystrokes, photos and that weird sensation you get when you mix stuff together. Oh, and Kevin talking to me about the wonders of Narrator.
Read more »
12/10/2006
‒
I think my perceptions have changed again. Maybe it's all the pressure, but right here and then I'm seeing the world differently again. Or is it the sightings I've learn to associate with anything and everything? Sure, something is wrong, or that's what I used to think before.
The surprising thing about this time is, somehow, I'm there but I'm not minding it at all. Sure, I'm not that good at keeping secrets - well, I'm actually good at keeping every secret but mine.
It's quite close to torture, although selective. I guess my paranoia has manifested itself again - you're lucky it hasn't come on as publicly as some cases have - or maybe I've learned to have fun. There's always a little adventure with each day, and even if I think it's going to be very boring, it turns out otherwise almost every time. Or it's my perceptions again. Excitement is subjective; what's handsome for you could be homosexual to me. In those rare times, though, when I find myself without anyone to pull my trigger and start another adventure, I wait, and nothing goes by.
Read more »
The surprising thing about this time is, somehow, I'm there but I'm not minding it at all. Sure, I'm not that good at keeping secrets - well, I'm actually good at keeping every secret but mine.
It's quite close to torture, although selective. I guess my paranoia has manifested itself again - you're lucky it hasn't come on as publicly as some cases have - or maybe I've learned to have fun. There's always a little adventure with each day, and even if I think it's going to be very boring, it turns out otherwise almost every time. Or it's my perceptions again. Excitement is subjective; what's handsome for you could be homosexual to me. In those rare times, though, when I find myself without anyone to pull my trigger and start another adventure, I wait, and nothing goes by.
Read more »
12/03/2006
‒
Just when exactly did watches come with wings?
It took me a long time to realize that next week is finals week. My YM window was my sole cue: all of my contacts who are also taking up Communication Arts, but are outside of the block, all have been screaming "we're busy, can't you see?" in one way or another, at some point last week. Of course, my blockmates are screaming the same thing within the past three days or so - the class suspensions, holidays and weekends gave us a surprisingly long stretch of time to play with, to work on research proposals, film reports and papers. (Although, as far as I know, the weather was no advantage for those doing their photo essays. It simply meant underexposed photos and no way to develop them.)
Then again, I never felt harassed. or, probably, it'll all come to me when tomorrow comes, when I step into the campus again and get a much-needed reality check. For starters, there are two readings for print class, thanks to the suspension. Then, there are our film notes for film class - thankfully I've printed out six before Friday, and then we weren't with electricity for merely two hours, not two days. The day after, I've got a photo shoot (yes, for our dramatic reading in Literature 2 class) which basically relies on the characters wearing their costumes and Dhi bringing her DSLR. On Wednesday, there's the waiver I'd have our subject Vladimir Bunoan to sign - then again, I haven't gone to John's place for transcribing the apparently muffled video, which reminds me of that adage in class that time goes against memory, or something like it. Oh, and also, there's that research paper for broadcasting class, which meant me watching television (and seeing the same things, which was some sort of epiphany) for two hours straight before actually getting bored.
Read more »
It took me a long time to realize that next week is finals week. My YM window was my sole cue: all of my contacts who are also taking up Communication Arts, but are outside of the block, all have been screaming "we're busy, can't you see?" in one way or another, at some point last week. Of course, my blockmates are screaming the same thing within the past three days or so - the class suspensions, holidays and weekends gave us a surprisingly long stretch of time to play with, to work on research proposals, film reports and papers. (Although, as far as I know, the weather was no advantage for those doing their photo essays. It simply meant underexposed photos and no way to develop them.)
Then again, I never felt harassed. or, probably, it'll all come to me when tomorrow comes, when I step into the campus again and get a much-needed reality check. For starters, there are two readings for print class, thanks to the suspension. Then, there are our film notes for film class - thankfully I've printed out six before Friday, and then we weren't with electricity for merely two hours, not two days. The day after, I've got a photo shoot (yes, for our dramatic reading in Literature 2 class) which basically relies on the characters wearing their costumes and Dhi bringing her DSLR. On Wednesday, there's the waiver I'd have our subject Vladimir Bunoan to sign - then again, I haven't gone to John's place for transcribing the apparently muffled video, which reminds me of that adage in class that time goes against memory, or something like it. Oh, and also, there's that research paper for broadcasting class, which meant me watching television (and seeing the same things, which was some sort of epiphany) for two hours straight before actually getting bored.
Read more »
12/02/2006
‒
It will get weird if I work backwards.
Before I got here, at the seventh computer in Netopia ATC, I asked myself whether I'd see somebody familiar today. And, true enough, before I made a turn right to make my way to this terminal Sars showed up, in that usual pink top, like she never wore anything other than pink. I guess I was deprived of a friend sighting for three days, now - and that includes Wednesday, when John and I went to the Business Mirror offices to set an appointment with its managing editor Vladimir Bunoan.
I just crossed the road before that - Madrigal is such a wide road, and without any pedestrian lane at that - and I wrapped up my interview. John didn't get lost, luckily, so his brother was seated in another table while the two of us talked to Vladimir about his work - he isn't just managing editor of the newspaper, but also turns out to be senior associate editor for Maxim. And the wind was blowing strong, and I was anxious whether the wind would muffle the audio. Luckily as well, John had the video camera ready.
Read more »
Before I got here, at the seventh computer in Netopia ATC, I asked myself whether I'd see somebody familiar today. And, true enough, before I made a turn right to make my way to this terminal Sars showed up, in that usual pink top, like she never wore anything other than pink. I guess I was deprived of a friend sighting for three days, now - and that includes Wednesday, when John and I went to the Business Mirror offices to set an appointment with its managing editor Vladimir Bunoan.
I just crossed the road before that - Madrigal is such a wide road, and without any pedestrian lane at that - and I wrapped up my interview. John didn't get lost, luckily, so his brother was seated in another table while the two of us talked to Vladimir about his work - he isn't just managing editor of the newspaper, but also turns out to be senior associate editor for Maxim. And the wind was blowing strong, and I was anxious whether the wind would muffle the audio. Luckily as well, John had the video camera ready.
Read more »
Niko Batallones writes The Upper Blog.
Subscribe to this blog,
follow him on Twitter,
or check out Nicksy Once Monthly,
his monthly (for now) music newsletter.
Unless otherwise stated, this blog's content are owned by Niko Batallones. No part of this blog may be reproduced elsewhere without proper permission and attribution.
All opinions stated in this blog are solely those of the writer's, and does not reflect those of his employers, or the organizations he is affiliated with.
Some photographs have been edited using post-production curves from Shalla Yu.
Powered by Blogger. Established in 2005.
View this blog's entries from